Tuesday, July 21, 2009

PF Chang's Crispy Honey Chicken


Ingredients
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into medium size chunks
1 T. minced garlic
Vegetable oil for frying
red bell pepper and/or scallions, julliene
Crispy noodles, rice or egg noodles or steamed rice for serving

Batter:
4 oz. all purpose flour
2-1/2 oz. cornstarch
1 egg
6 oz. water
1/8 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. baking soda

Chicken Seasoning:
1 T. lite soy sauce
1/8 tsp. white pepper
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1 T. corn starch

Sauce:
1/2 cup sake or rice wine
1/2 cup honey
3 oz. rice vinegar
3 T. lite soy sauce
6 T. sugar
cornstarch slurry--1/4 c. corn starch mixed with 1/4 c. water

Directions
To make batter: mix ingredients till just combined. Let rest in refrigerator for a couple of hours. Coat chicken well with seasonings and marinate in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Combine sauce ingredients, mix thoroughly and reserve for serving.

Pour vegetable oil into fryer or heavy bottomed sauce pot. Heat slowly to 340-350 degrees. Put 1/4 of the marinated chicken in a clean bowl and pour enough better over to coat. Remove a few pieces at a time from the batter, using slotted spoon or large fork. Shake off excess batter. Carefully lower chicken into the hot oil. Suspend the chicken until the batter "sets," 20-30 seconds. Chicken is done when golden to light brown and crisp. Remove to platter with paper towels to drain. Repeat for all the chicken. Remember to check the oil temperature, it must remain hot.

To finish the sauce, heat it in sauce pan, bring to a boil. Add cornstarch slurry, a little at a time.The sauce will thicken, let it come to a thickness of "loose honey." Let cook for a minute or two.

Heat 2 T. oil in a wok and add some minced garlic, red bell pepper and scallions and stir-fry briefly. Add 1/3 to 1/2 of the chicken (depending on pan size) and stir-fry briefly. Add enough sauce to just coat chicken. Stir-fry again briefly. Serve over noodles or rice.

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